World Cup 7 – Val di Sole

It doesn't even look real but Val di Sole (or the Valley of the Sun) is a very picturesque place! It also happens to be home to one of the most brutal race tracks on the planet!
It doesn’t even look real but Val di Sole (or the Valley of the Sun) is a very picturesque place! It also happens to be home to one of the most brutal race tracks on the planet!

There will be no more world cups until 2016! Seems crazy to write that because it feels like only last week we were racing the first round but it is the truth. Fortunately there is still the world championships to come but before we get ahead of ourselves, Val di Sole (VDS) and what a race it was for the finale. The overall competition for the juniors and the women had already been determined but the men’s competition was still Greg Minnaars to win and Aaron Gwins to lose! Of course there were so many other plots as well, could Loic Bruni snag his first world cup win? Could Troy Brosnan grab the win after crashing in Windham the race prior? Would we yet again see another fresh out of the juniors field rider grab their first elite podium?

Track walk is always interesting, this year there were many new features which meant riders couldn't just go back to the lines from previous years.
Track walk is always interesting, this year there were many new features which meant riders couldn’t just go back to the lines from previous years.
This was one of the biggest concerns, moisture... it was always there lurking but never had a big say in how the event turned out.
This was one of the biggest concerns, moisture… it was always there lurking but never had a big say in how the event turned out.
Aptly named...
Aptly named…
The man getting all the attention!
The man getting all the attention!
It was good to see Steve Peat back on a bike, his weekend didn't quite go to plan scoring another injury, at least this one is a lot more minor!
It was good to see Steve Peat back on a bike, his weekend didn’t quite go to plan scoring another injury, at least this one is a lot more minor!

Racing saw an Italian junior, Loris Revelli, step up to the plate and take away the coveted gold medal much to the delight of the home crowd! Andrew Crimmins was the highest placed Aussie in fourth place,he took home second overall a fantastic result!

Junior Men:

1st. Loris Revelli
2nd. Jacob Dickson
3rd. Laurie Greenland

Remy Morton had a promising first junior season, roll on 2016.
Remy Morton had a promising first junior season, roll on 2016.

In the elite women it was the same story as it has been most of the season, Rachel Atherton took the win! Myriam Nicole showed that she can handle the technical tracks, a good sign before world championships. Third went to current world champion Manon Carpenter.

Elite Women:

1st. Rachel Atherton
2nd. Myriam Nicole
3rd. Manon Carpenter

Tracey Hannah took the last place on the podium in 5th.
Tracey Hannah took the last place on the podium in 5th.
Manon Carpenter looked to ramp up her title defence ahead of world championships taking 3rd.
Manon Carpenter looked to ramp up her title defence ahead of world championships taking 3rd.
Myriam Nicole took second.
Myriam Nicole took second.

In the elite men all the attention was on the last few riders as they were the ones who had more to gain than just the race victory! Brook MacDonald was in the hot seat when Greg Minnaar started his run, it wasn’t long before he made an uncharacteristic mistake and sampled the Italian dirt, in the process he awarded the 2015 series to Aaron Gwin. Next up was Lolo aka Loic Bruni the young French man rode well displacing Brook MacDonald from the top spot. Next on course was Aaron Gwin, he rode a smart race and ended up just ahead of Loic’s time. This left fastest qualifier Troy Brosnan on track, he was fastest at split one but a crash/bobble/incident meant he broke his finger but still managed to charge home for third place.

Elite Men:
1st. Aaron Gwin
2nd. Loic Bruni
3rd. Troy Brosnan

You don't often see Greg Minnaar crash, especially in a race run.
You don’t often see Greg Minnaar crash, especially in a race run.
Gee Atherton couldn't repeat his world championships success here from a few years ago.
Gee Atherton couldn’t repeat his world championships success here from a few years ago.
Fastest qualifier translates to last rider down the hill. We now wait for the 2016 season.
Fastest qualifier translates to last rider down the hill. We now wait for the 2016 season.
The race is won or lost, long before riders cross the finish line.
The race is won or lost, long before riders cross the finish line.
2015 was a break through year for many riders including Tahnee Seagrave.
2015 was a break through year for many riders including Tahnee Seagrave.
Still no world cup wins for this maestro, hard to believe really!
Still no world cup wins for this maestro, hard to believe really!
Rachel Atherton showed to be the class act of 2015 in a league of her own.
Rachel Atherton showed to be the class act of 2015 in a league of her own.
What could have been.... emotion levels were high!
What could have been…. emotion levels were high!
Captain America takes his 14th world cup win and 3rd overall series.
Captain America takes his 14th world cup win and 3rd overall series.
Aaron Gwin again showed he can handle a bike on a variety of courses to take the win here on a totally different track to the last race in Windham.
Aaron Gwin again showed he can handle a bike on a variety of courses to take the win here on a totally different track to the last race in Windham.

That wraps up the 2015 UCI downhill world cup series, what a great year it has A�been. Of course join us in Andorra for the world championships in a few weeks time.

Images:A�http://www.lukasnavratil.cz/ FacebookA�hereA�or Instagram @luknav

Get more content onA�FacebookA�orA�follow us on Instagram: @downhill247

Inside Info – Connor Fearon – Val di Sole

Val di Sole is a track Connor has always done well on. We will let him fill you in on his weekend...
Val di Sole is a track Connor has always done well on. We will let him fill you in on his weekend…

A hectic schedule for the first two World Cups of theA�year had riders trying to get up to speed as soon as possible, with Connor Fearon back in Australia he gives us the Inside Info on his Val di Sole Experience;

downhill247com Inside Info cf1

36th in qualifying meant Connor comfortably would be in the main show come Sunday.
36th in qualifying meant Connor comfortably would be in the main show come Sunday.

downhill247com Inside Info cf2

Pick Of The Pics – World Cup 2 – Val di Sole

Sam Hill and that pink kit/rig, it was for a fantastic cause and after 5th in qualifying he was looking to give it a gold tinge come race day! A crash didn't make it happen but the time lost from the video of the crash shows Sam was right in the hunt.
Sam Hill and that pink kit/rig, it was for a fantastic cause and after 5th in qualifying he was looking to give it a gold tinge come race day! A crash didn’t make it happen but checking the time lost from a video of the crash shows Sam was right in the hunt.

You know what they say “time flies when you’re having fun”, Val Di Sole was onlyA�the otherA�week but already feels much longer than that! Let us have a look back at a few more banging images from the event, enjoy!

Dean Lucas took his maiden win and had Australia stoked - we didn't learn until after how bent his derailleur was, almost a show stopper! Some times luck goes your way.
Dean Lucas took his maiden win and had Australia stoked – we didn’t learn until after how bent his derailleur was, almost a show stopper! Some times luck goes your way.
By itself the track is crazy enough, add the changing dynamic as run after run creates new lines the whole way down.
By itself the track is crazy enough, add the changing dynamic as run after run creates new lines the whole way down and you just never know what lines are going to appear.
Get your line wrong and you know what is going to happen...
Get your line wrong and you know what is going to happen…
Team-mates Troy Brosnan and Aaron Gwin scouting lines.
Team-mates Troy Brosnan and Aaron Gwin scouting lines.
Finals saw Troy get on the podium in 5th and Gwin was just behind him in 6th.
Finals saw Troy get on the podium in 5th and Aaron was just behind him in 6th.
Rooosssttttt!
Rooosssttttt!
The most photographed guy on the hill? Quite possibly (excuse the pun!) Image: Friedrich Simon Kugi
The most photographed guy on the hill? Quite possibly (excuse the pun!) Image: Friedrich Simon Kugi
You have to feel that Stevie Smith is going to grab another win sooner rather then later!
You have to feel that Stevie Smith is going to grab another win sooner rather then later!
Solid result for Luke Ellison, most of the juniors have headed home and are preparing for the World Champs. Image: Friedrich Simon Kugi
Solid result for Luke Ellison, most of the juniors have headed home and are preparing for the World Champs. Image: Friedrich Simon Kugi
Some juniors will continue on the World Cup circuit until Worlds though.
Some juniors will continue on the World Cup circuit until Worlds though.
Not easy to camouflage in that get up... Image: Friedrich Simon Kugi
Not easy to camouflage in that get up… Image: Friedrich Simon Kugi
The track was pretty deadly on bikes, evidence here!
The track was pretty deadly on bikes, evidence here!

We have a break for a little while before round 3 in Andorra.

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